The Bell of World Peace and Love Rings for the First Time in New Orleans: Spreading Hope for a Better World
At the gala, all attendees used the peace dove gesture to convey the positive energy of love, peace, and hope.
Nowadays, the world is facing an increasing number of natural and man-made disasters. The aspiration of achieving the ideal world described in Louis Armstrong's timeless song "What a Wonderful World" seems increasingly challenging. However, Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, the president of the Federation of World Peace and Love (FOWPAL) and leader of Tai Ji Men, remains hopeful. He led the Love of the World Cultural Goodwill Group to New Orleans to participate in the "United Nations of Cities" Collaboration Conference from August 3 to 6, to explore ways to work together towards realizing the vision of a better world.
Dr. Ricki Garrett, Interim President of Sister Cities International, right, is presented with the “Key to the Heart” by Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, president of FOWPAL, after ringing the Bell of World Peace and Love during the World Conference of Mayors in New Orleans. The key symbolizes that conscience is the key to a successful life.
On the evening of August 4, Dr. Hong led the group to host the World Leader Summit of Love and Peace and International Love and Peace Gala at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside, inviting two important leaders to ring the 240-kilogram "Bell of World Peace and Love" to pray for all creatures in the region and around the globe. This was the first time that the Bell rang in the Southern United States. The event was attended by nearly 200 people from 10 countries, including current and former mayors, state legislators, city council members, and leaders from all walks of life.
Leonard Lucas, Chief Apostle of the Light City Church and a former Louisiana State Representative, right, is presented with the “Key to the Heart” by Dr. Hong.
Additionally, through the fusion of Eastern and Western music, dance and other exciting cultural performances, the Cultural Goodwill Group conveyed to the jazz city the positive energies of conscience, love, peace, and hope.
Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, president of the Federation of World Peace and Love (FOWPAL), right, is presented with the "Love and Peace Award" by Johnny Ford, founder and president of the World Conference of Mayors and the Historic Black Towns and Settlement Alliance, for his tireless efforts in promoting conscience, love, and peace around the world, during the World Conference of Mayors in New Orleans on August 4, 2023.
The World Conference of Mayors presented the first Peace and Love Award to Dr. Hong in recognition of Dr. Hong's outstanding contributions as Dr. Hong has led the Love of the World Cultural Goodwill Group to 101 nations, promoting love and peace and was instrumental in the United Nations’ establishment of the International Day of Conscience.
Tai Ji Men members present the Purple Phoenix dance during the World Conference of Mayors in New Orleans on August 4, 2023. Through the dance, Tai Ji Men conveys warmth, love, peace, and wishes everyone to be blessed with health and happiness.
The World Conference of Mayors "United Nations of Cities" Collaboration Conference revolved around the theme "WE ARE TOGETHER, Collaborating for Peace, Love, and Economic Prosperity, in the Cities of the World." This significant gathering brought together mayors, former mayors, elected officials, black policy-making organizations, as well as leaders and members of non-governmental organizations. The conference facilitated invaluable and practical exchanges, aiming to promote cooperation in seven fundamental objectives: trust-building, trade, tourism, technology transfer, twin cities partnerships, treasury management, and training initiatives.
Tai Ji Men members present the Sword Dance during the World Conference of Mayors in New Orleans on August 4, 2023. Through the dance, Tai Ji Men spread righteous energy to inspire people to follow the guidance of their conscience and do the right thing.
For the first time in New Orleans, the ceremony of the "World Love Peace Bell", which has been rung and wished by 504 leaders from 133 countries, including 59 heads of state and 7 Nobel Peace Prize winners, was held in New Orleans, the birthplace of jazz, and was deeply meaningful. Dr. Ricki Garrett, Interim President of Sister Cities International, and Leonard Lucas, Chief Apostle of the Light City Church and former Louisiana State Representative, rang the bells and made the wishes. The bell’s mellifluous chimes merged with the hearts and minds of the VIPs, and together they prayed for world peace.
Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, president of the Federation of World Peace and Love (FOWPAL), second row, center right, presented mayors and other influential leaders with a gift of conscience for promoting love and peace.
Leonard Lucas, Chief Apostle of the Light City Church and former Louisiana State Representative, rang the bell and wished “that we stop judging each other based upon our outer appearance and we see the content of each another’s character. If we’re all our father's children, we should always be unified as brothers and sisters.”
Dr. Ricki Garrett, Interim President of Sister Cities International, rang the Bell and wished for “all people of the world to become citizens of peace and diplomacy one person at a time.”
Over the past decades, Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze has led the Love of the World Cultural Goodwill Group to travel around the world, dedicated to spreading the culture of conscience, love, and peace. In 2002, they visited countries in East Africa, Central Africa, West Africa, South Africa, and North Africa. In 2019, they went to the Pacific Islands, which are suffering from climate change. In 2019, he will visit the Pacific Islands, which are suffering from climate change. Dr. Hong was also instrumental in the United Nations' designation of April 5 as the International Day of Conscience, which is one of the most important milestones in the history of humankind. This day serves to remind people of the importance of self-reflection and doing good deeds to improve themselves and their communities, and to become a key point of change in the world.
On behalf of the World Conference of Mayors, Johnny Ford, Founder and president of the World Conference of Mayors and the Historic Black Towns Coalition, presented the organization’s first ever “Peace and Love Award” to Dr. Hong in recognition of his courageous work and outstanding contributions to peace and love around the world.
Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, president of FOWPAL, delivered a speech, emphasizing, “Within the depths of human hearts reside the five poisons of greed, anger, ignorance, arrogance, and doubt, which cause conflicts and disputes among individuals and nations. However, alongside these negative attributes, there also exist the warmth of sincere love, a pure and bright conscience, and selfless hope and action. These positive qualities can transcend barriers, unite each other, foster cooperation, and enhance the well-being of all humanity.”
Dr. Hong noted that “the Federation of World Peace and Love has designated September 23rd of each year as the ‘World Day of the Power of Hope.’ We firmly believe that where there is hope, there is action, and when there is concerted action of conscience, there will be success. Let us act with our conscience and harness the power of hope for our own safety, the safety of others, and the sustainable development of the world. After all, heaven helps those who help themselves, and the positive energy of the universe will undoubtedly guide the Earth towards a path of sustainable development. ”
Dr. Hong presented a Certificate of Appreciation for Cultural Exchange, a commemorative silver coin set, and a book titled the History of International Day of Conscience to Johnny Ford, founder and president of the World Conference of Mayors & Historic Black Towns and Settlements Alliance, as well as certificates of appreciation to more than a dozen leaders from various walks of life in recognition of their collaborative efforts and accomplishments in promoting cultural exchange.
The highlight of the event was Tai Ji Men's captivating cultural performances, which were a true delight for both the eyes and ears. The combination of a traditional Taiwanese opera and the enchanting melody of the bamboo flute celebrated the power of goodness, inspiring everyone to act with conscience and spread love and peace.
Additionally, the Cultural Goodwill Group mesmerized the audience with their uplifting drumming performance, featuring the formidable Tai Ji Men's drums of war. The sword dance and the Purple Phoenix Dance were also showcased, sending a profound message of love and peace through their graceful movements.
To celebrate the Bell of World Peace and Love being rung in New Orleans, under the guidance of Dr. Hong, Tai Ji Men dizi (apprentice) composed the song "The Power of Peace and Love", which was sung for the first time in the world. "In the face of hatred, we know that forgiveness of others is forgiveness of ourselves. By cleansing our hearts with blessings and gratitude every day, and with a clear mind, we will heal the pain and nourish the harmony of life, spreading the power of love and peace like the spring breeze that turns the rain into rain." The lyrics of the song are far-reaching, encouraging everyone to join hands and unite to break down barriers, and to find the path of light for the world through tolerance and understanding, which perfectly echoed the theme of the conference, and the guests were immersed in the song and swayed along with the song.
The abundance of positive energy exuded by these performances left the audience in awe. To add more excitement, the group brought the iconic figures of Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, and the Beatles to life, paying homage to the legendary superstars of 20th-century popular music and culture. They invited the audience to join in singing and dancing, creating an electrifying atmosphere that filled the entire ballroom with joy and enthusiasm.
“Dr. Hong has been exemplary,” said Jimmie Gardner, Mayor of City of Prichard, Alabama, highlighting the importance of the event organized by Dr. Hong and his organizations, “When the world get an opportunity to see it, feel it, and taste it, and hear it and wrap all of their senses around it, this world will be a better place.”
John Mcgowan,Country commission of Bullock Alabama,said, “The conscience scarf and the message of the presentation is the thing that I will carry throughout my life.”
Dr. Mingzhe Liu, an environmental expert and Tai Ji Men dizi, said that it was a great honor to follow Dr. Hong to participate in this grand event and saw many touching things because mayors are the closest to the citizens, and the experience of one city's prosperous development will lead all cities to better enhance their policies, technologies, and even the application of resources by linking up and exchanging information with each other. The conference was well attended, with people with professional backgrounds from various industries coming to share their experiences with the mayors. The most special feature of the conference was that Dr. Hong was invited to give a speech on wisdom leadership, which was very well received, with many requests for the speech to be used as a recipe for governance. In addition, we also organized exchange activities with local youths, who are at a rebellious stage and are sometimes not easy to touch, but FOWPAL used music, dance, martial arts and one-minute prayers with meditation for direct spiritual contact and education of conscience, and the children were very quick to talk about how they hope for world peace, how they hope their families can become better, and how they hope that the world will stop the wars.
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